Yankees' Josh Donaldson could be out for remainder of season

The Yankees placed Josh Donaldson on the 10-day injured list Sunday afternoon. The club initially announced his injury as a left calf strain, though further testing has apparently revealed a serious injury.

Donaldson met with reporters this evening and said doctors have called his strain anywhere between the Grade 2+ and Grade 3 varieties (relayed by Greg Joyce of the New York Post.) That’s enough to diagnose it as a tear. There’s no timetable for his return.

Asked whether he expects to make it back this season, both Donaldson and manager Aaron Boone were noncommittal. Each noted the recovery timetable was variable but the skipper said it’d at least “be a decent amount of time” before Donaldson comes back.

The veteran infielder has had a disastrous 2023 campaign. Donaldson lost a good chunk of the first half with a right hamstring strain. He’s now seemingly in line to miss the bulk of the second half. Around the injuries, he’s hitting only .142/.225/.434 in 33 games. New York is sure to buy him out at year’s end for $6M rather than trigger their end of a $16M mutual option regardless of whether he’s able to return this season.

New York recalled top prospect Oswald Peraza to take Donaldson’s roster spot. Peraza is in the lineup at third base Monday against the Angels. Veteran DJ LeMahieu got the nod at the hot corner Sunday.